patrol 3.0 diesel

[tezzer]

i might be looking to buy a late patrol in the next couple of months and would like to know what the 3.0lt engine is like, ie reliability, performance, mpg, manual or auto etc, and any little problems to look out for, any comments welcome thanks tezzer:naughty:thumbs

 

[andrewk]

I've had an 05 LWB Patrol 3.0Di SVE with manual 5sp box for about two and a half years now - now has 43000m on the clock.

* I've had a couple of problems with glow plugs, one of which was fixed under warranty - one I'm still carrying. Even with (at least) one duff glow plug, it starts first time, every time even in the middle of winter, albeit that it makes a little smoke for a few seconds.

* I've had a clutch master and slave cylinder changed under warranty.

* The engine has two oil pressure sensors - a high pressure sensor and a low pressure sensor. The high pressure sensor has failed twice - one was replaced under warranty.

* In the last month or so, I've had to replace both the MAF sensor (mass air flow) and also the Charge Air Pressure sensor (aka MAP sensor or boost sensor) to fix a power loss problem

* At about 30,000m, I had the front pads and disks replaced. At about 48000m, it will need the rear pads and disks replacing. It seems that brake disks wear about as quickly as the pads themselves.

The motor still has the original battery, shock absorbers and exhaust - some of which are likely to need replacing soon. Reliability on the road has been excellent and there has been no breakdowns requiring recovery.

Now that the engine is fully run-in and the MAF sensor has been changed, performance is very good for such a large, heavy vehicle. The engine is also very tractable. It'll footle along at 30mph in 5th on a fairly level road without a problem.

I tow a 1500kg caravan with the Patrol. It's a great towcar. On the motorway, you can overtake in 5th towing a caravan, even up a slight incline. It's also very good off tarmac - greenlaning (in fact, it's embarrased my mates Defender 90 a couple of times) - though it could do with more ground clearance.

Fuel consumption is a bit on the heavy side. For a week with mostly town driving, I get only a little over 20mpg. If you have a better mix of town/country you might get 24-25mpg. On a longish run or on the motorway, I can easily get 26-28mpg. Don't believe the official figures, you haven't a hope in hell of getting 30mpg no matter how gently you drive the motor - maybe if you drive the length of the M6/M5 at 40mph you might, but I haven't tried that.

I don't know how "late" a Patrol you are thinking of getting. I'm not saying you should avoid it, but the later Patrol with the CRD engine is said to be very thirsty if you exploit it's performance (according to rumours on the Austrailian patrol4x4.com site).

Hope this helps

Andrew

 

[tezzer]

hi andrew and thanks for your help, it does'nt sound to bad really, i was thinking of going for the straight six earlier model , i know those engines go on and on and pull like a train, anyway thanks again andrew, i did expect more input from members regarding the 30lt model, perhaps they will post later, tezzer

 

[patbhoy]

I have the 2.8 straight 6 which i bought in january, as far as fuel consumption is concerned i average 25mpg, on the motorway travelling at a constant 60mph i manage 35mpg.
So far the only work i've had to do is replace the worn out front shocks and a few brake pipes.
Love the truck and would recommend them to anyone.

 

[brianpaul]

3ltr Troll

I have a 2000 (W) 3ltr auto, I tow a 2.5 ton trailer with no probs. around town I get about 25 mpg (leave it in overdrive) but towing the trailer it goes below 20 more like 17mpg. but it is easy to forget the trailer is there.
Work so far - new aircon pipe, if the pipe comes out of bulkhead and disapears down to the bottom of the engine bay, then back up, the weld where the pipe passes it self is liable to fracture, (300 pounds + vat + fitting from nissan).
New front Diff, looks like previouse owner had abused it and then added an adetive to make it run quiet. (500 pounds from scrapie + 365 fitting)
Best car I have ever had, but hey I have wanted one since I was 7 (got aged 34) so I am a little biased!!!

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

got a 2000 x reg 3.0 tdi manual, as said super car, tug and limo!

but think to clever for own good, same with most modern electrickery
great when it works bit of stress when doesnt.

that said owned year and not had green flag anywhere near it, just like
t2 before it for four years.

straight mot pass last year, didnt even need injector cleaner fluid like t2
only ever did.

occasional check light, in process of diagnosing once and for all but pretty
sure sticjy throttle pedal as matches others description of momentary
lack of power. ease of and floor it and away it goes again.

oh and intercooler surround wor whole in main turbo hose, replaced hose
trimed surround but still rubbing, so flashing plastic saying 3.0 turbo
may come off.

otherwise best ruck every had, about 22mpg solo round town and towing
but hey if wanted economy would have a prius, which wouldnt carry 7
in luxery, off road or tug 1600 kg caravan.

 

[andrewk]

otherwise best ruck every had, about 22mpg solo round town and towing but hey if wanted economy would have a prius, which wouldnt carry 7 in luxery, off road or tug 1600 kg caravan.

I agree with everything you say here. The last time I had the back row of seats down, my brother who is 23stone used one. Unlike the back seats in some vehicles, those in the Patrol are full size and very comfortable.

As an aside, the symptoms you've just explained sound the same as mine - power loss under load but then behaves normally if you lift off the throttle and press down again. For my 'Troll it was the boost pressure sensor (it's on the output side of the intercooler (t'other side from turbo).

You can check whether the boost sensor (aka MAP sensor, aka Charge Pressure sensor) is faulty with a multimeter - but it costs £220 from NIssan, so you won't want to just change it on spec. Ditto MAF sensor. The method for doing this and expected readings are in the workshop manual.

Best of luck
Andrew

 

[tezzer]

thanks for your input guy's, may go out and look at some this weekend:thumbs

 

[zippy656]

hay tezzer, this to replace teh T2 or the landy?

 

[Sinkhole]

Over here the 3.0 ltr diesel is known as the hand grenade! Because the sometimes go off with a bang. When it happens it's cheaper to drop in a new donk than fix the factory one. I'm not sure of the details off the top of my head, but I'll dig out the article which specify the issue and post the details. It might be a different motor over here, but the info could be useful to you any way.
Jim

 

[Sinkhole]

OK, I can't find the main article I read with a bit more detail, but heres a quick quote:
"ZD30 3.0L engine: There have been a number of well documented faults with this engine relating to airflow meters and engine lubrication, sometimes causing complete engine failure. Following the required maintenance schedules can minimize the chance of this happening" (You think !?!)

The other article I read mentioned a factory recall and strongly advised only considering a purchase where full, detailed log books showing all service history and implementation of the recall where available.

Apparently, when you get a good one, there pretty good, but the chances of getting a hand grenade are much higher with this donk, so be very careful about the engine when your picking one out. (Unless you want to rip it out and drop in a 6.0l Turbo Chev diesel that is.......:thumb2)

 

[andrewk]

"ZD30 3.0L engine: There have been a number of well documented faults with this engine relating to airflow meters and engine lubrication, sometimes causing complete engine failure. Following the required maintenance schedules can minimize the chance of this happening" (You think !?!)

There is a lot of info about this on the Austrailian patrol4x4.com forum. As you say, it is a well known problem. Later ZD30s are modified and are not affected - from about 2002 onwards, I think.

Andrew

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Andrew, ref the two oil pressure sensors,

how does a fail show itself, I ask as i feel my oil light takes
too long to go out, it may be only a second or two but feels
so long which watching it!

it never comes on once running and plenty of oil on dipstick.
even after an oil change and filter didnt really speed the
light clearing.

 

[tezzer]

hay tezzer, this to replace teh T2 or the landy?

hi zipps, patrol will be replacing the t2, i need a bigger motor now, mum is having major problems walking and will need a wheel chair, which i cant get in the back of t2 with 6-7 seats up, having a look at the weekend to see what other vehicles that have enough room.:thumbs

 

[briggie]

hi zipps, patrol will be replacing the t2, i need a bigger motor now, mum is having major problems walking and will need a wheel chair, which i cant get in the back of t2 with 6-7 seats up, having a look at the weekend to see what other vehicles that have enough room.:thumbs

best wishes to your mum mate :thumb2 , i have to fold the last row of seats down in my mistral to get my large electric wheelchair in , but still enough room for 3 grandkids :thumb2

 

[zippy656]

oh well at least your thinking of nissan still and not a 110 landy..

 

[tezzer]

thanks pete, i know what you mean, theres no chance of getting a wheel chair in the rear, sometime i need to use the 7 seats so a chair is not an option, so it looks like im going the patrol route, should fit in there, i hope, lol. :thumb2

 

[zippy656]

take it with you if you can just to make sure..

maybe a trailer...

 

[briggie]

thanks pete, i know what you mean, theres no chance of getting a wheel chair in the rear, sometime i need to use the 7 seats so a chair is not an option, so it looks like im going the patrol route, should fit in there, i hope, lol. :thumb2

another alternative i thought about , is a trailer for the wheelchair , but i discounted it cos its electric and might get wet

 

[lacroupade]

There is a lot of info about this on the Austrailian patrol4x4.com forum. As you say, it is a well known problem. Later ZD30s are modified and are not affected - from about 2002 onwards, I think.

Andrew

True-they sorted the problem just before they started fitting the 3.0 into the T2 apparently....